HAZEL
Wenzel took his seat at the head of the table.
He looked at me.
I kept my eyes down. I was still working out whether that was the right call. The conversation at the gallery had been almost normal. He had spoken to me like a person speaking to another person, no theater to it. So maybe eye contact was permitted here. Maybe it was expected. But after the Sofiane situation, I needed to be safe.
I stayed down and waited.
"How was your night, Hazel?" he asked.
His voice was the same as it had been before. Pleasant and measured and giving nothing.
But I knew better.
"It was fine," I said.
"Laslo says he has to punish you."
I let a beat pass before I answered. "I wasn't privy to how firm the rules were. I'm getting better now."
"Well," he said. "That is good to hear." There was a pause, and then he continued right where he stopped: "You and Lysander can talk to your heart's full today. I allow it."
I allow it? Allow it?
